When you think of Facebook, the first thing that comes to mind probably isn’t streaming content. Parents sharing memes, friends posting pictures of their pandemic bread-making, viral videos of pandas doing cute things – that’s what Facebook is all about, right?
However, like other tech and media companies before them, Facebook is in the streaming game now, and they are putting out some great content. They even have a competitive edge over other streaming sites because they make their shows free to watch. All you need is a Facebook account and decent bandwidth, and you’ve got a mountain of streaming content at your fingertips.
Where do you start? With the slew of shows available, how do you choose the best ones to watch? A good idea is to go where the people are – look at the relative viewership of each show (Facebook makes this info readily available on each show’s icon) and choose based on that. Or, you can follow a celeb you like. Or, you can choose a genre that interests you.
To get you started, here’s a biased opinion on the three best shows to watch on Facebook.
Red Table Talk
This ultra-popular talk show helmed by Jada Pinkett Smith has over 10 million followers on the social media site and routinely makes global headlines for its willingness to tackle unspoken societal issues. Joining Jada are her mother, Adrienne Banfield Norris (affectionately known as “Gammy”) and Jada’s daughter, Willow.
The trio welcomes guests from various backgrounds and perspectives – Snoop Dogg, Esther Perel, Matthew McConaughey, Queen Latifah and, in a recent viral interview, Olivia Jade. The show is effortlessly watchable and routinely thought-provoking.
Sorry for Your Loss
Hot on the heels of her recent success with Disney+’s WandaVision, Elizabeth Olsen stars in this dramatic web series about a woman grieving the recent loss of her husband.
Opening on a grief counselling meeting and following protagonist Leigh as she relearns how to live in the world, the show is insightful and emotional – with witty flourishes that keep it from being melodramatic. The series currently holds a 94% critic rating and 91% audience rating on Rotten Tomatoes, indicating universal acclaim.
Humans of New York
It started as a photoblog documenting the strange, fascinating and beautiful side of everyday New Yorkers in an intimate fashion. The docuseries follows directly in that photoblog’s footsteps.
Culled from over 1200 interviews filmed over four years, this taut, magnetic series offers an unprecedented look at the lives of average Americans in the country’s most un-average city. From people experiencing homelessness to stylish raconteurs living by the beat of their own drum, the stories populating Humans of New York are a testament to humanity’s variety and depth.
Next time you log on Facebook to post a picture of your new home renovations or stalk your high school ex, check out one of these excellent shows. If you’re looking for a free alternative to the other streaming services, here’s your golden ticket.